TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

TE/BE/2016-2017 Part II
 Traffic Characteristics
 Road user characteristics
 Vehicular characteristics

 Traffic studies
 Name of various studies & Uses
 Accident studies
 objectives, causes, diagrams, preventive measures
 Traffic regulations & Control Devices
 Signs,signals, markings, islands, intersections
 Parking facilities
 Vision
Hearing
Strength
Physical
Reaction to
situations
PIEV theory

Road user Attentiveness

characteristics
Psychological Fear/Anger
Attitude

Road side
features
Environmental
Atmospheric
conditions
PIEV Theory
 Perception Time : Time required to perceive an
object
 Intellection Time: Time required for the driver to
understand the situation
 Emotion Time : Time elapsed during emotional
sensations. Eg. Fear,anger,shocking etc
 Volition Time : Time taken by the driver for the
final action. Eg. Braking

Total Reaction Time >> 0.5 sec to 3 or 4 sec

Say it as 2.5 sec on an average
 Vehicle Dimensions
Maximum Turning
Static Angle
Characteristics Weight of loaded
vehicles

Vehicular
Characteristics
Power of vehicles
Speed of vehicles
Dynamic Braking
Characteristics characteristics
Acceleration &
Decceleration
Vehicle Dimensions

Length & Width of vehicle

 Width of traffic lane
 Shoulders, Parking facilities
 Capacity of roads
 Design of vertical & horizontal alignment
 Extra width of pavement
 Safe overtaking distance

Height of vehicle
 Clearance to be provided under structures such
as bridges, underpasses, electric lines etc
 Maximum Dimension Of Road Vehicles

Dimensions of Details Maximum dimensions

vehicles ( Excluding front & rear
Bumpers), m
Width All Vehicles 2.50
Single deck vehicle for normal 3.80
Height application
Double deck vehicle 4.75
Single unit truck with two or 11.00
more axles ( type 2,3)
Single unit bus with two or 12.00
more axles (type 2,3)
Length
Semi trailer tractor combination 16.00
( Type 2-S1,2-S2,3-S1,3-S2)
Tractor & Trailer combination ( 18.00
Type 2-2,Type 3-2,2-3,3-3)
Weight of loaded vehicle
 Affects – design of pavement thickness & Gradient

 IRC recommends maximum permissible gross weight

& axle weights

Power of vehicle
 Governs the limiting values of gradient on roads

 Consider : total resistance to traction, rolling

resistance, air & grade resistance
 From total hauling capacity >>> speed & acceleration
of vehicles are determined
Speed of vehicles
 Affects design of sight distance
 Superelevation
 Length of transition curves
 Design gradients
 Capacity of traffic lane
 Design of Control measures

Braking Characteristics & Efficiency

 Deceleration and braking characteristics Braking
 Safety of operation, sight distance, spacing system
 Braking efficiency to be 100 %
TRAFFIC STUDIES
 Traffic volume
 Spot speed
 Speed & Delay
 Origin & Destination
 Parking
 Accident
Traffic Volume Studies
 Measure to quantify traffic flow
 No. of vehicles passing across a given
traverse line of the road during unit time
 Expressed as no. of vehicles/hour or per day
 Classified traffic volume : Volume of each
vehicle class separately
 Level of measurements of traffic volume
 Hourlyflow ( Veh/hour)
 Annual Average Daily Traffic ( AADT) (Veh/day)
 Average Annual Flow ( Veh/year)
Methods for traffic counts
( Traffic Volume )
Manual Method
 No. of observers needed
 Equipments needed
 Watch, Pencil, Eraser, Sharpner, Data Sheets, Clip Board
 Field summary sheets
Automatic Method ( Devices)

 Sensors
 Pneumatic Tubes, Electric Contact, Coaxial Cables
 Photoelectric devices, Radar, Infrared/ Ultrasonic devices
 Magnetic devices
 Recording Mechanism
 Video/Photographic Method
Traffic volume count ( Manual)
Traffic volume count ( Automatic)
Traffic Speed Studies
 Change in speed of vehicles
 Change in Level Of Service (LOS) of the roads

Spot Speed Studies:

 Instantaneous speed of a vehicle at specific
location

 Method of measuring :
 time taken to cover a known distance
 Long – base Method
 Short – base Method
  Radar Speed meter
 Photographic Method

 Data presented as cumulative speed

distribution diagram
Speed & Delay Studies
 Running speed, fluctuations in speeds,

 Overall travel speed

 Location, duration & frequency of delays

 Measuring Methods:
 Floating car
 License plate / vehicle registration number
 Interview technique
 Elevated observations
 Photographic
O – D Studies
 Basic data for determining “ Desired Lines”
 Establish preferential routes for different trips
 Methods of conducting :
 Road – side interview
 License plate
 Return – post card
 Tag on car
 Home – interview method
 Work spot interview method

 Presentation of data
 Showing no. of trips between different zones
 Desire lines are plotted connecting Origin & Destination
ACCIDENT STUDIES
 Objectives
 To Study the causes of accidents and to suggest
corrective treatments at potential locations
 To evaluate existing design, regulations and
control measures
 To carryout before and after studies after
implementing changes
 To make computations of financial loss due to
accidents
 To provide economic justifications for the
improvement measures suggested by engineers
 Causes of accidents
 Drivers
 Excess speed, Rash driving, Violation of rules,Failure to
understand the situation,fatigue,alcohol
 Pedestrians
 Violating regulations,carelessness

 Passengers
 While alighting from or getting into vehicles

 Vehicle defects
 Failure of brakes, Steering,Lighting Systems,Tyre defects

 Road conditions
 Slippery/Skidding surface, pot holes, Ruts, Obstructions
to sight
 Road design
 Defective geometric design, Inadequate sight
distance & width
 Traffic Conditions
 Vehicles moving ahead, Presence of disable
vehicles
 Weather
 Like mist, Fog, Snow, Dust, Heavy Rain

 Animals
 Stray animals on the road
Collision Diagram
 Drawn not to scale
 Depict the details of the accident location
 shows appropriate path of the vehicles and
pedestrians involved in accident
 Shows other objects with which the vehicles
have collided
 Most useful for Before and After studies
Condition Diagram
 Drawn to Scale
 Shows all important physical features of the
road and adjoining area
 Important details to be shown are
 Width of roadway shoulders,medians,curves,kerb
lines, Roadway conditions, Obstructions if any
 Both Collision & Condition diagrams can be
combined together
 Accident Reduction Measures

• Road Designs • Speed Control • Instructions in

Engineering Measures

Enforcement Measures

Educational Measures
• Preventive • Traffic Control Schools
Maintenance of Devices • Poster
Vehicles • Training and exhibition
• Before and After Supervision • Publishing
Studies • Medical Check Highway
• Road Lighting • Observance of Safety Code
law and • Organizing
regulations Traffic Safety
Awareness
Programs